Diogenidae

Family: Diogenidae

Group: Marine Invertebrate, Species

Scientific Name	Common Name	Summary
Paguristes turgidus	Orange hairy hermit crab	This hermit crab appears to be either rare or restricted to specific locations in the Gulf of Alaska. The photographed specimen was dredged near Metlakatla and is the first specimen I have seen in Alaska. Strangely enough, this hermit crab is not closely related to any other hermits in our area. Recent genetic studies have shown that the hermit crabs in the family Diogenidae evolved independently of the pagurid hermits. The easiest way to distinguish this from paguroid hermit crabs is to look at the claws. The claws of Paguristes are approximately equal in size and shape, while that of paguroids are asymmetrical with the right usually being much larger and more robust.